BRENDAN RODGERS believed that ditching his 3-4-3 formation at the interval helped Liverpool to overcome a stubborn Swansea side at the Liberty Stadium.

A goal from Jordan Henderson in the second-half secured the win for the Reds, helping them to close the gap on fourth-placed Manchester United to just two points.

Liverpool started the game with their usual 3-4-3 formation, but were unable to dominate the game as Swansea dealt with any attacking threat.

Rodgers switched to a four-diamond-two in the second half, allowing his team to press higher up the pitch, and speaking after the game, the former Swansea boss revealed that it was the right call to make.

He told Sky Sports: "I thought we were outstanding in the second half. In the first half we were nowhere near the level we expect. In the first half the 3-4-3 didn't work. We weren't pressing enough, and when we got the ball, we gave it away too cheaply. We changed the structure in the second half by going to a diamond and pushing the sides forward, and we were a lot better.

"It doesn't matter what system you play, the attitude and the energy are important. We weren't on it in the first half. But credit to Swansea, they played well. We shortened the pitch a lot better in the second half and started to create problems for them.

"There's no doubt Simon Mignolet's back to his best. We needed him in the first half. He's been excellent. Clearly now, you see his confidence, along with the team's."